By Marley

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the music and entertainment industry was pretty much brought to a halt within a few days if it wasn’t hours. Many festivals, live events and tours were cancelled until unknown dates. However, music always finds a way to rise from the ashes and now festivals are getting online. Up The Creek music festival, which is the second longest running festival in South Africa, is hosting a Relief Show. This is what it is all about;

Up the Creek has joined forces with some key players in the industry to put together an online show to raise much needed funds for our industry. On Saturday 6 June, Up the Creek Online will feature 8 musicians, 2 DJs, a comedian and 3 hosts during a 7-hour show, from 16:00 – 23:00. Watch on a screen in your home!

Nick Hamman 5FM - photo supplied by Up The Creek
Nick Hamman
(photo supplied)

Up the Creek wants to be very transparent with their audience regarding the funds raised and how they will be spent. They have set a target of R180,000 and have worked with all their suppliers and musicians involved to set up a lean budget, with a proportionate share of the funds raised to be split as follows:

• Musicians and Entertainers – 38%
• Staffing Relief Fund – 42%
• Marketing Costs – 8%
• Streaming Costs – 7%
• Admin Costs – 5%

Sune Haldermand - photo supplied by Up The Creek
Sune Halderman
(photo supplied)

Up The Creek is a festival based just outside of Swellendam, Western Cape. This is one of the most colourful festivals I have ever attended. Imagine the summer weather, cooling off in the Breede River with your favourite kind of float. Have you tongue stained blue from drinking the Titanic (the official drink of UTC), you don’t care what you look like because no one at UTC is there to judge you on anything – other than to party with you. Music for all hours and almost every taste. It’s a mixture of cool festival people, bands, the smell of grassland and food stalls. This is now the opportunity for you to get a taste of what UTC is like even if it’s wintertime. Because we love music.

Now, who is on the line up you ask? Albert Frost, Hot Water, Riaan Smit, Flying Bantu, Akkedis, Crosscurrent, DJ Dirtroad and Paradise Citizens are all confirmed for the show, along with comedian Rob van Vuuren, and your hosts for the show Nick Hamman (5FM), Keri Culver and Sune Halderman – both who are old Nelspartans.

“And in true Creek style, we’ll throw in a couple sideshows and surprises on the day!” –

Sune Halderman (Artist Liaison)
Artist line up for Up The Creek Relief Show - photo supplied by Up The Creek
Artist line up for the
UTC Relief Show

“A show like this doesn’t happen for free, and in these current times it’s not fair to expect anyone to work for free; the musicians and artists giving of their time and skills should be fairly rewarded along with the funds we’re able to raise for our staff.”

Caitlin Hanley (Festival Director)

UTC Relief Show is also running a raffle to help contribute towards funds and will draw the winners during the show. Some serious good looking prizes up for grabs;

  • Up the Creek hamper consisting of 2x tickets for the next official UTC festival & 2x 30 Year Reunion at the River t-shirts (these weren’t available for sale to the public)
  • 2 nights stay at Aloe Ridge Self-Catering Accommodation (four adults) alongside the beautiful Breede River www.aloeridgebreede.co.za
    *Prize valid for a period of 12 months from date of issue and dates over Easter Weekend and New Years cannot be booked.
  • Beerworks #Boomboxx Hamper – Valued at R2,500 and delivered to your backyard. 30 Litres of your favourite Beerworks Craft Beer in a keg. Mobile tap set up in your home/backyard. Prize includes a Backyard Beer Fest activity pack, glasses, merchandise and everything you need to enjoy it.

    Ts&Cs: Prize will be delivered when lockdown allows, and free of charge within 30kms of Cape Town CBD, the keg can stay at you until it’s finished. Prize valid to claim for 3 months as soon as lockdown allows. No u18s can win this prize.

As you can see that the UTC Relief Show is a must watch and simply a can not miss online concert – from 16:00 till 23:00 it’s entertainment galore. And enjoyed best with your favourite drink and foods. Check out Up The Creek’s Facebook page for info on the food vendors! Plus if you are not sure on how the whole online concert works, UTC explains it all.

Tickets for the UTC Relief Show is already on sale and can be bought via www.howler.co.za/UTC and the show is on Saturday 06 June 2020

Follow Up The Creek on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more UTC news

Marley VW
Marley is the founder and owner of Small Town Music. Born and bred in Nelspruit aka Nelsparta. Marley loves music (rock being a firm favourite), tattoos, festivals, animals and South Africa. Self-taught photographer and writer.